Real Madrid may reportedly try to bring in Manchester United full-back Diogo Darlow as a long-term replacement for Spanish veteran Dani Carvajal. After the Red Devils signed 27-year-old Moroccan striker Mazraoui this season, many fans were disgusted with Dalow, and if Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS want to purge him, selling him to Real Madrid could be a good option.
The 25-year-old Portugal international, who joined Mourinho from Porto for £19 million in 2018, was not appreciated by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and loaned him to AC Milan in 2020/21, but Rangnick has grown into the Reds' first-choice defender and Ten Hag has continued to reuse him, having been voted the best in the team last season by his team-mates.
New boss Ruben Amorim is still using Darlow as a start-up, but he has been deployed at left wing-back where his assists are limited because his left foot is not flexible enough. In recent games, a number of Red Devils fans have also criticised his defence. Western media "Relevo" reported that Real Madrid may have taken advantage of the situation and made contact with Darlow's agent.
However, if Real Madrid want to bring in Darlow, Manchester United have a price tag of €50 million (£40 million). The club recently signed a new contract extension with the Portuguese wing-back until 2028, with the option of a new one-year first refusal. With a weekly wage of just £87,000, Darlow is one of the team's lowest-paid main players.
Real Madrid have a few other options to replace Carvajal at right-back, including Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is out of contract but the England international could still extend his contract at Anfield, with Alexander-Arnold restarting talks for a new contract but asking for between £300,000 and £350,000 a week as Slo steers his side towards the Premier League title.
Asked about Darlow's performances at the weekend, new United boss Amorim said: "He's very powerful. Sometimes we have to rotate him because while he always seems energetic, it's not, he's not a machine! I think he's better on the right and we'll try to get him on the right and he's a very good player. He can play on the left and right wings, and that's the perfect player in this era. My expectations for Darlow are the same as last year, he's a team player and you can tell from the way he plays.'
However, with Mazraoui and Amad Diallo on the right flank, it will be difficult for Darlow to remain in the main position. As a Portuguese player, a move to Real Madrid would also be a good ending, the Bernabeu is the dream of most Iberian Peninsula players, and Darlow's friend Cristiano Ronaldo will definitely support his transfer.
Of course, it doesn't seem like a good decision for Manchester United to sell Darlow, as the Portuguese is one of the few players in the squad who has been improving, is in his prime, has good mental attributes and has a reasonable income and good value for money. But if the player loses his main position, the player will inevitably consider leaving, and it will be a dilemma for Manchester United to sell or not.
The departure of 22-year-old Manchester United's right winger Diallo is also an issue that the club needs to solve as soon as possible. Mr. 40 million is entering the final half of his contract and the Reds must renew him within this month, otherwise they will have to use a one-year priority clause to extend his contract. If he doesn't, Diallo will have the right to freely approach overseas clubs from January next year, and even initialize his contract and leave for free next summer.
Diallo has three goals and five assists this season and has been an important player under Ruud van Nistelrooy and Amorim. Amorim wants the club to give him a new contract as soon as possible, and the hierarchy do not want to activate the extension clause, they plan to sign a five-year contract directly. According to The Telegraph, Diallo's new contract is a key item on the agenda in the coming weeks.